make a Fall Garland

A simple, beautiful, kid-made garland!

This activity was invited to be on The Resourceful Mama’s Kid-Made Link Party! Check it out for all sorts of other fun for children both at home and in the classroom:

http://www.theresourcefulmama.com/made-for-kids-link-party-1/

you'll need Materials

• Watercolour paper
• Watercolour paint
• Paint tray
• Acrylic gloss (*Optional if you want shiny leaves)
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Beads
• Twine
• Hole punch

We always find these items helpful too:

• Smock
• Craft tray

Directions

• Go on a nature walk, observing, collecting and/or documenting fall leaves for inspiration, looking at the colours and shapes.

• Don your smock. Paint several sheets of watercolour paper with fall leaf colours. We mixed our primary colours to form secondary colours. If you would like shiny leaves add a bit of acrylic gloss to your watercolour paint. Allow to dry overnight.

• On your paper sketch out your leaves and then cut them out.

• Punch holes in your leaves. You could go with one or two to stabilize them.

• Thread your leaves and beads onto your garland.

• Enjoy!

Purpose

• Observing, collecting and/or documenting changes in the season and creating a likeness.
• Developing one’s fine motor skills and gaining familiarity with a variety of tools and techniques.

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors with care and adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.
• Beads can be a choking hazard therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.